Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Sergio and Odair Assad

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Free Music Notes for Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Sergio and Odair Assad

Free Music Review: A luminous, brilliant performance
Hit: 5 Stars

The complaints in some reviews here, such as grousing over a lack of discernible melodies, are largely unfounded.

Of course we don't get "Greensleeves" or "Danny Boy" or any familiar, sentimental favorites. And, of course, these tracks are not for the fans of Jim Nabors or Montovani.

But lush, romantic, and witty, dashing tunes abound. A degree of musical sophistication and experience as a listener helps. But anyone who can listen with pleasure to Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea will love this album. It's not nearly as far out as Elliot Carter's String Quartets or Crumb's "Ancient Voices of Children." Not at all, as some reviewers might lead you to believe.

The playing is virtuosic, and I am a classical guitarist and can testify with a technically educated ear. The Thomas Humphrey guitars the Assads play ( one a spruce top and one a cedar top) blend beautifully under Nadja's violin.

One is nearly tempted to make symbolic comparisons here, marking the bird of the violin singing over the ocean of melody pouring from the guitars, or some such silly thing.

Why? Because the whole performance is braided with an erotic yet intellectual chain of musical perfection tied to vital, soaring imagination.

Like the Assad Brothers' Piazzolla album, this one is a must-have for fans of contemporary acoustic music, classical guitar or simply luscious string playing. The gypsy melodies themselves are a magical enough suite to warrant buying this disk.

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